Volume 3, Issue 8, August – 2018
ISSN No:-2456-2165
Post Harvest Losses in Horticulture
K. Madhuri
BSc. Agriculture (Hons)
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
Abstract:- The horticultural products are highly
perishable in nature. Fruits and vegetables undergo rapid
transformation between the harvest and consumption
which results spoilage and reduces market value. The
impact of Climate and weather conditions, harvesting and
handling techniques, packaging material, storage and
transportation facility, market situation, dust from cement
factory, disease and pest animal attack will leads to post-
harvest loss. Mostly post-harvest losses occurs during
harvesting, transporting and storage. Improper handling
of horticultural produce leads to physical and pathological
damage. There will also be impact of cultivation practices
on post-harvest losses, such as dosage of fertilizers
application, time of sowing, planting material used and
time and method of irrigation. The highest post-harvest
loss was recorded for tomato (45.32%), for mango
(43.53%), whereas the least post-harvest loss was recorded
for coffee (15.75%). Post-harvest loss ranging from 20% to
50% was recorded in between marketing and
consumption. To minimize the post-harvest losses proper
harvesting, storage and transport facilities should be
maintained well and should follow proper cultivation
practices.
Keywords:- physiological damage, pathological damage.
I. INTRODUCTION
Horticulture plays a very important role in economy of
our country. Horticultural products are also rich in nutrients
and vitamins. There are various reasons for post-harvest losses
and it is mainly due to improper handling, transport and
storage conditions. Horticultural crop cultivation also provides
employment to the labors and other sectors. Processing of
horticultural products give various sub-products like jams,
jellies etc.
Horticultural crops includes vegetables, fruits, flowers
medicinal plants, spices and condiments. They are used for
various purposes and have high economic value. Various
horticultural products are exported to other foreign countries.
It helps in increasing the income of rural people. Cultivation
of horticultural crops provide employment in various sectors,
and provides opportunity to generate employment for rural
population. Horticultural produce contribute 29.5 per cent to
Agriculture GDP. So post-harvest losses show major impact
on decreasing the marketing quality which leads to low market
price and also by-products cannot be produced and show
direct impact on economy.
IJISRT18AG313 www.ijisrt.com
International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
P. Vamshi Krishna Reddy
Bsc. Agriculture (Hons)
Lovely Professional University, Phagwara, Punjab
II. FACTORS EFFECTING POST-HARVEST LOSSES
Post-harvest practices includes harvesting, handling,
storage, processing, packaging, transportation and marketing.
Fruits and vegetables are living organs they perform metabolic
actions like respiration .They contain 90% of moisture when
the water reserves are exhausted then the fruits and vegetables
dies and decays.
During high temperature conditions, low atmospheric
humidity and physical injury there will water loss in the
produce. Physical injury also leads to the attack of pathogen,
splitting, skin breaking.
The process of respiration uses stored starch and sugars
and stops when the resources are exhausted, leading to ageing.
Newly harvested produce continues to lose water, Loss of
water causes shrinkage and weight loss Ripening is also an
important factor, it occurs when the fruit is mature, ripeness is
followed by senescence. Fruits are of two types on bases of
ripening. They are
A. Climacteric fruit:
The fruit which continues to get ripened even after
harvesting is known as climacteric fruit.
B. Non-climacteric fruit:
The fruit which ripe when it is still attached to the parent
plant is known as non-climacteric fruit.
Ethylene is the plant harmone which promotes ripening
and senescence. Ethylene is also used in artificial ripening of
fruits, the production ethylene is more when fruits are injured
and decayed. High production ethylene will not help to
maintain the quality of fruit.
Pre harvest factors that affect post-harvest losses Starting
from the soil in which the crop is grown to handling of the
produce before harvesting includes under pre harvest factors.
Plants require continuous supply of water to perform
photosynthesis and transpiration. The time of sowing and the
planting material used also shows direct impact on the
produce. The dosage of fertilizers, time of irrigation physical
damage to the plant and fruit and also pathogen attack will
leads to reduction in the quality. Damage may also cause due
to environmental stress like heavy rainfall, high temperature.
Less production of plant food material will also reduce the
quality of produce.
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Volume 3, Issue 8, August – 2018 International Journal of Innovative Science and Research Technology
ISSN No:-2456-2165
III. STEPS TO AVOID LOSSES

Post-harvest losses can be avoided by following good

cultivation practices.
 Recommended rate of fertilizers should be applied.
 Time of sowing should be suitable to the crop.
 The planting material should be healthy.
 Proper irrigation should be provided.
 Intercultural operations should be performed in proper
manner.
 Avoid physical and pathological damage to the plant.
 Protect the plant from adverse environmental conditions.
 Harvesting should be done without any physical damage.
 Suitable packaging methods and materials should be used.
 Proper transportation facilities should be maintained.
 Storage conditions should be hygiene.

IV. RESULTS

Post-harvest losses show severe effect on country’s

economy and decreases the export and import value. Also
decreases the market demand .Detoriation in quality of
produce may also occur due to high use of chemicals, so
preventive measures must be followed during harvesting,
transportation and storage.

V. CONCLUSION

Every step that we undergo in cultivation of crop is very

crucial so we should take care in order to prevent damage to
the produce.

REFERENCES

[1]. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S16580
77X15300837
[2]. https://in.search.yahoo.com/yhs/search
[3]. www.fao.org/save-food/projects/saarc-countrie
[4]. www.sciencedirect.com/science/article
[5]. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/post-harvest_losses.

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